"..the truly cultured are capable of owning thousands of unread books without losing their composure or their desire for more." - Gabriel Zaid
"All the books we own, both read and unread, are the fullest expression of self we have at our disposal." - Nick Hornby
"The surest way to spot a non-reader: someone who comes into your house, looks at your books, and asks, 'Have you read all these?'" - Nick Hornby
"A room without books is like a body without a soul." - G.K. Chesterton"There is no mistaking a real book when one meets it. It is like falling in love." - Christopher Morley
"I've never known any trouble that an hour's reading didn't assuage." - Charles DeSecondat
23 comments:
Excellent. My favorite of your quotes: I've never known any trouble that an hour's reading didn't assuage." - Charles DeSecondat
Know what I read when Carl came out and we went through the whole separation ordeal? LM Montgomery. Anne, of course, but Emily, too. It's one of the things that made me feel like I could manage to get out of bed every day, and keep being a good (enough) mom.
gosh this looks JUST like my best friends house1 she has, of course, read them all, AND knows where they all are, too!
i know where they all are, too -- because they're catalogued. [sheepish grin]
they are bobbsey twins - i also have all my nancy drews, trixie beldens, and my little brother's hardy boys. although apparently they're all so sexist/racist i willnot want my kids reading them...
So, have you read all these?
(sorry ...just can't help myself sometimes)
i can't either...hence the addiction...ergh.
it could be worse, it could be heroin.
Care to explain the blue tape on the spines?
GAH!
have just realized that people could post all kinds of creepy heroin-like addictions.
should be an interesting day.
Look!
a list at McSweeney's that you might like...
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/lists/4NathanThornton.html
those blue tags are the library of congress numbers - they're all catalogued in an access database, and shelved (mostly) accordingly. i need to build more bookshelves...
i told you it was an addiction...or a sickness...or both.
I see you have the digital camera up and running! This post is so great, it's a work of art in and of itself.
You say sickness or addition, I say so? Mmm... reading.
Things I especially noticed: the beautiful mortar and pestle, and The Poisonwood Bible.
Did you know you can feed Scoop the fish? I just learned that this morning. You couldn't always do that, could you?
I can tell walking into your house would make me feel right at home.
I have never met anyone else who read Trixie Beldon. I still want to be her, even after I've donated the entire series to the library in hopes that other girls will read of her adventures and adore her.
(whistles)"Bob-white! Bob-white!"
I feel all inadequate, 'cause my books have no blue tape on them (save for the ones I rescue at library sales). However, when I redo that room, I'm getting the ladder thingy that rolls along the walls.
Oh, and (so far, i.e., books 1-6, I think) the Hardy Boys aren't particularly racist or sexist, but they are unspeakably lame.
-Joke
P.S. Who knew BabBab would be in favor of censorship?! ;-)
I just found your site by reading the comment you left over at "Pea Soup". I was attracted by yours books's photos and the wise and funny quotes. I am a book's addict too, and I have a lots of books. I love reading! Very funny and real the Nick Hornby's quote about the surest way to spot a non-reader. Last week at my home, a visit looking my shelf said exactly the same! LOL! I will return soon. Regards from Sonia, São Paulo, Brazil.
hey now, Joke...now that I have children, whom I do not allow to watch or read certain things (mostly due to age-inappropriateness at this point), i find i am conflicted re: censorship.
but for adults - read what you want. anything you want. it's your right. as a librarian, i am even more committed to that.
"The surest way to spot a non-reader: someone who comes into your house, looks at your books, and asks, 'Have you read all these?'" - Nick Hornby
My bookshelves do not compare but still I am asked this by virtually every new visitor. I love that quote. And the cataloging (sp?)....I still have my books from childhood with masking tape and the first three letters of the authors last name. I love the cataloging.
My addiction is up and I don't think I'm as sick as you, but I'm definitely on my way. LC, eh?
I once worked at a University Library and had a girl come in and ask me for where the DS call numbers were. I told her, "Oh, they're downstairs on level two." She turned bright red and said, "Oh, Duh. Of course. DS...downstairs. I'm such an idiot sometimes. Thanks."
Me - "You're welcome(and yes, you are)." What would have happened if she'd asked that same question to a librarian on level 1? Perhaps her brain would have exploded.
Trixie Belden Rules!
Oh Trixie!! I loved the brother, the one who always used big words. They were out of print for ages but are available again. I have a great quote but I can't dredge it up: it's something like "of course you're running out of room for books. Everyone's running out of room for books...." (It's actually very pompous--I have it hung up at home.) I wish my books were organized--I have been looking for one notebook for about three months. btw, I love love love Nick Hornby!!
lsjqyck: lets see, quick yellow cup kakes?
Catalogued...sigh - someday I want to be like you! At this point my collection is small enough that I can tell you where almost anything is off the top of my head.
BabBab,
You know I was teasing, right? I am not even remotely conflicted about monitoring and restricting the reading material of those I have offsprung until such a time as they can a) pay for whatever they want to read and b) I do not subsidize them in any way.
And as a libertarian (sorta sounds like librarian, dunnit?) I think any adult should read whatever he or she wants to read.
-J.
P.S. But the lameness of The Hardy Boys IS worrisome.
Found the quote (well, pulled it off my wall for the moment of typing this): "Naturally you're out of book space. Everyone is out of book space. If you're not out of book space you're probably not worth knowing."--Roger of Martin, 1979. I don't know who Roger is or why 1979 is significant, but I love that quote. What is the Jane and Sergio reference?
muvhyifa: much vanity has you in false attire. (sounds like a fortune or a horoscope)
sl - great quote. i am stealing it. it sums up my personal philosophy.
jane and sergio- first line of "jane says" by jane's addiction. since this is the addiction show-and-tell post...too arcane?
J - i do know you were teasing - i just worry about my kids wanting to read all the wrong things and then reconciling my views on censorship with saying they can't. not now, but when they're a bit older, although i get grief now for not allowing spongebob, etc.
These are wonderful! This is my favorite:
"..the truly cultured are capable of owning thousands of unread books without losing their composure or their desire for more." - Gabriel Zaid
Post a Comment